A New York Summertime Tradition: Coney Island

Last week we touched on a few of New York’s awesome beaches to check out this summer, and this week we’re highlighting one one quirky and beloved New York spot with its own beach: Coney Island!

Grab your sunhat and head to Coney Island this summer. Experience the nostalgia, the kitschy entertainment, the endless people-watching and the always beautiful ocean first hand. We have a few suggestions for how to spend a day on Coney Island.

Coney island is right at the southernmost swath of Brooklyn looking out onto the water of the Lower Bay. It’s accessible by train, bus or car. Use the address 1208 Surf Avenue for GPS purposes.

Coney Island is perhaps the most iconic New York City beach. While the beach is better for people watching than for enjoying solitary pristine nature, the waves still roll in under blue skies and over yellow sands, making it a timeless escape. The beach spans 3 miles of sand and ocean front; perfect for tossing down an umbrella and towels.

Another mainstay attraction of Coney Island is its legendary boardwalk. At 14 feet above the beach and 80-feet wide, the boardwalk officially opened to great excitement on May 15, 1923. Since its unveiling, it has been expanded and is now a distance of 2.7 miles in length stretching from W. 37th Street to Corbin Place, with 1.3 million boards and 15.6 million screws and nails (about 12 to a board). The boardwalk links the excitement of Coney’s colorful amusements and the sweeping calm of beach and ocean.

Coney Island is no slouch when it comes to entertainment. Back in 1884, the first roller coaster debuted here. The tradition continues today with Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Luna Park. Luna Park is home to the Cyclone and Thunderbolt roller coasters, attractions, dining, shops, and more. An original wooden roller coaster, the Cyclone was narrowly saved from demolition and later declared a city landmark in 1988 and a National Historic Landmark in 1991. Deno’s Wonder Wheel is 150 feet tall — the equivalent of a 15-story building with panoramic views from the top. Both attraction parks offer different rides, games and more. A trip to Coney Island wouldn’t be complete without the thrill of getting on a ride or two.

At nearby Greenwood Beach, there’s a great open air art gallery that’s over 50,000 square feet of art. The art here is street art that covers walls in vibrant colors and larger than life lettering and pictures. It’s a popular spot for selfies and profile pictures. After taking some snapshots, hit up one of the many food vendors nearby for tasty snacks or lunch.

This quirky museum walks visitors down memory lane with antiques and memorabilia from former games and rides that were part of the Coney Island amusement parks. There are vintage bumper cars, fun house mirrors and much more! The museum also has special exhibits from time to time. It is an easy visit and with its inexpensive admission, ($5) worth checking out.

1208 Surf Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11224

Every Friday night from May to August 19, at 9:45 Coney Island puts on a show of fireworks over the beach. The show takes place between West 10th Street and West 12th Street (in Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk). Bring a blanket and set up on the beach to watch the sparkling show over the ocean.

The Lombardy Hotel’s timeless elegance is iconic to Midtown Manhattan. Our rooms are spacious, comfortable and thoughtfully designed to make you feel at home. We look forward to hosting you on your next visit to New York City.

*Due to Covid-19 our restaurant, cafe and gym will remain closed for a time.